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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Paige Freshwater

Woman reunited with missing dog who ran onto train tracks after escaping groomer

A woman has been reunited with her missing dog after he diced with death by running along train lines.

Owner Aimee Smale, 24, issued a desperate plea for help after her shih tzu, Alfie, escaped from his groomer's in Chafford Hundred, Essex.

After he legged it from his wash and blow dry on Thursday, the terrified dog was spotted running along train lines, heading towards Ockenden.

He ended up holding up commuter trains and prompted concerned travellers to worryingly venture onto the tracks to try to catch him.

In a Facebook post, Amiee said: “Please if you are on the tracks looking for him I appreciate your help but the police will not send any drones until everyone is off.

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Owner Aimee Smale with Alfie (Facebook)

“Please, please, please come off the tracks so they can send.”

She added: “Confirmed by two people to be seen running out of Chafford Hundred Station late last night and seen around Galleon Road.

“We live on Victory Close so we believe he is trying to make his way home.

“Please keep an eye out and let us know. Do not go looking for him, or call him. His family know the precaution to take, he is a very nervous dog.

“Please bring my baby home.”

Aimee went out to search for her missing dog in the dead of night, when the trains had stopped, taking some of his favourite toys.

Aimee is a fashion designer (Facebook)
Alfie escaped from his groomer's (Facebook)

She said: “We will not leave until our Alfie is found - hoping the scent of his brother and a few of his favourite things can bring him back to us.”

It is thought Alfie spent two days on the train tracks before a kind member of the public managed to grab him and he was reunited with Aimee later on Saturday.

The dog had been stuck outside as Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice raged around him.

Aimee shared a video of Alfie on Facebook to let people know the dog had been found and reunited with her other pup Sid.

She said: “Sid has non stop been kissing Alfie since his return, so so grateful for everyone’s efforts.

“Whether you was out looking, sharing on Facebook or prayers, our family is so grateful - a massive thank you to Pippas Army also.

“Donate whatever you can to that lovely non profit organisation, they run solely off donations and every penny makes a difference.”

Aimee is a fashion designer and owns the brand Odd Muse.

She quit a two-year career in the buying office at ASOS in August 2020 to set up her own label, which she runs from her kitchen table in Grays.

In October 2020, she went viral after she accused Pretty Little Thing of nicking the design for one of her blazers.

Do you have a dog story to sell? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.

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